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Chinese phone manufacturers are in the news more than ever before, and these days it isn’t just because their latest handset has more than a passing resemblance to an iPhone or the latest Samsung handset. Rather it’s because the various Chinese manufacturers are beginning to both innovate and offer up handsets that compare favorably when set against their imported rivals. Let’s take ZTE for example, yesterday it was announced that the Chinese company is set to announce a 94.2% growth in full-year profit. That’s an amazing figure, in stark contrast to Samsung who saw their share in the Chinese market drop by almost a third. ZTE has achieved this by offering handsets with good specifications at prices that undercut their international competitors. ZTE’s latest handset, the Blade V2, has been quietly unveiled on its website, with the specifications laid out below.
Let’s deal with the specifications first. The Blade V2 is powered by the Quad-Core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor that is clocked at 1.2GHz. There’s 1GB of RAM for multi-tasking and 8GB of internal storage which can be added to thanks to the included Micro-SD card slot. The 5-inch display has a 1280 x 720 resolution. There’s a 13MP rear-facing camera with a flash module while the front-facing camera is a 5MP sensor. The Blade V2’s dimensions (143 x 70.7 x 8.5mm) mean that it’s quite pocketable, and there’s a 2,400mAh battery storing the power. The following GSM bands are supported 900/1800/1900MHz, as well as WCDMA bands 900/2100MHz. The Blade V2 also supports CAT 4 LTE bands 800/900/1800/2600, allowing the device to achieve download speeds of up to 150Mbps. Finally, the device will launch running Android version 4.4 KitKat, which is a little bit of a letdown considering that the processor is 64-bit capable and Lollipop (5.0) has been around a couple of months now. Hopefully, ZTE will see fit to either provide a timely update or even update the launch firmware to Lollipop in the coming weeks or months ahead.
The Blade V2’s main claim to fame is the coating on the device. ZTE claim that most other handsets made of plastics and metal substances are smooth but also cold and lifeless. Whereas thanks to the baby-skin rubber paint, the Blade V2 offers a better experience, with the device instead having a slightly ‘elastic’ feel to it, with little to no friction. ZTE make the slightly unsettling claim that it feels just like ‘human skin’. Whether it does or not, it’s a sign that ZTE are beginning to think about other aspects of the mobile phone experience. As yet, there’s no word on pricing nor when or where the Blade V2 will made available. Don’t forget to have a look at the promo video that ZTE have released (below), and let us know your views on our Google Plus page.
